Pearberry New Year

Things have been going fantastically lately. With some INCREDIBLE interviews coming my way, I have a lot to be thankful for as this new Jewish year begins.

I found a wonderful way to say Shana Tova (aka Happy New Year, for the non-Jews out there) in the form of Martha's delicious Pear and Cranberry Bellini. Because who says bellinis are only acceptable before noon?

A very happy and healthful new year to you all! Wishing a family-filled, warm and delicious Rosh Hashana to all my fellow Jews out there (and the non-Jews too!). I feel very blessed to have you all in my life and can't wait to spend the next year and many more in your good company. May year 5772 be filled with joy and peace.

Love from the Beast Coast!

Recipe for Pear and Apple Bellinis: http://www.marthastewart.com/316147/pear-and-cranberry-bellini?backto=true

Ingredients

• 1 cup pear nectar
• 1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
• 1 bottle Prosecco or other dry sparkling white wine 

Directions

1. In a small pitcher or large liquid measuring cup, combine pear nectar and cranberry juice cocktail. Pour 1/4 cup juice mixture into each of eight champagne glasses. Dividing evenly, top with Prosecco or other dry sparkling white wine.

Chain link ribbon

Things are looking up! Last week was full of interview invites at  med schools I never thought I could  dream of attending. This means that it's even more important that I look fantastic for my moments in the spotlight. I have to rock their socks off! And look cute while I'm doing it, of course.

I have been thinking of getting together some tasteful, homemade accessories to complement my gorgeous suit (a splurge I acquired at Banana Republic - after all, you only apply to med school once, I hope!). Plus, what is a better talking point then my love of crafting and blogging? I figure some well-placed jewelry will pave the way for a fun conversation topic.

First stop: a cute, simple bracelet. I thought Martha's Chicest Link crafts were a great start. I acquired a roll of simple, chunky chain and paired this with two velvet ribbon scraps I had lying around from another project I have long forgotten.


Adorable, simple and classy! A perfect combination.

More ideas are here: http://www.marthastewart.com/266768/the-chicest-link?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/handmade-necklaces#slide_18

Pasketi

When my baby sis was young, she used to have the adorable habit that many children have: pronouncing spaghetti like pasketi. This is in stark contrast to me who never took any adorable linguistic liberties; I spoke in boring adult language.

Anyway, today I substituted pasketi in this delicious recipe compliments of the big boss. Highly recommend for a late night, quick dinner.

Recipe: from http://www.marthastewart.com/314711/penne-with-two-tomatoes-and-mozzarella

Ingredients
6 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Coarse salt and ground pepper
12 ounces penne rigate
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1/4 cup snipped chives

Directions 

Place cheese in freezer. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta and set aside.

In pasta pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and pasta water. Cook until cherry tomatoes soften, 2 to 4 minutes.

Add pasta, chilled cheese, and chives to pot, season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.
Cook's Note

Chilling the mozzarella cubes in the freezer for 15 minutes helps them retain their shape when they're added to the hot pasta.

As prepared in Nice

Apparently "nicoise" means "as prepared in Nice." Who knew?  This Nice-style salad is fantastic; it consists of all things delicious: tuna in olive oil, grape tomatoes, russet potatoes and arugula.

I made just this tonight: a Salad Nicoise ala Martha. Delicioso!

Recipe: http://www.marthastewart.com/313979/tuna-salad-nicoise


Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds small red new potatoes, quartered
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 pints grape tomatoes
• 2 bunches arugula (4 to 6 ounces each), ends trimmed, washed and dried
• 1/4 cup Lemon Vinaigrette to Make 1 1/2 Cup
• 2 cans (6 ounces each) tuna in olive oil, drained
• 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place potatoes on sheet. Drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Roast for 15 minutes. Add tomatoes to potatoes on baking sheet; toss. Cook until potatoes are tender and tomatoes are lightly browned and soft, about 10 minutes.
   
2. In a medium bowl, toss arugula with 2 tablespoons vinaigrette. Arrange roasted vegetables, arugula, tuna, and olives on platter; drizzle with remaining vinaigrette. Serve.
   

Detoxify

Today SUCKED. Okay, I know I always say that, but today was something special. After getting yelled out for over five minutes by an irate family member in the ER, I was ready to call it quits. Thankfully, I was able to power through and make it home to my bed aka sanctuary.

Now that I'm home, I opted for a bit of a detox. Martha style, of course. Martha's One Whole Minute today was just what the doctor ordered: a stretch meant to detox.

The video can be found here. As Martha writes, exercise is great for toning muscles, but it's also great for detox. Seated spinal twist and breathing meditations are a great start.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: One Whole Minute

Sea season

As summer draws to a close and the gloomy rain of fall sets in, I really wanted to take a little piece of summer along with me to remind me of warmer days. Over the years, I have amassed a large collection of shells and sea glass, mostly from vacations to Hawaii and other beautiful beaches with my family.

My mom graciously drilled holes in a select few sea glass and shells, making them perfect for pendant necklaces and earrings. Today, I opted to make a simple pendant necklace. Martha's sea glass necklace was perfect, simple and adorable.

I decided to do a shell-sea glass combo. I ordered a roll of gold chain and used gold wire to affix the combination to the chain in the form of a necklace. I think this works well! It'll be perfect for the minute the first hint of wintry mix sets in.




Further instructions: http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/sea-glass-crafts#slide_3

Pendant necklaces are simple to produce -- knot a silk cord around a single shard, and glue to secure -- and offer an easy way to show off unusual finds, such as amethyst, yellow, and cornflower-blue glass.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Beach Ideas, Gardening Projects, Vacation Crafts, and Relaxing Ideas - Martha Stewart